noun
Wagyu (Japanese cattle breed); Wagyu beef
Refers to four specific Japanese cattle breeds (黒毛和種, 褐毛和種, 日本短角種, 無角和種) and the beef from them. Often associated with high-quality marbled beef.
和牛は霜降りが特徴です。
Wagyu is characterized by its marbling.
このレストランでは最高級の和牛を提供している。
This restaurant serves top-grade Wagyu beef.
和 (wa, 'Japanese') + 牛 (gyū, 'cattle'). The term was officially defined in 1944 to distinguish native Japanese breeds from imported ones.